James a



:.n ni-u Patented 1360.29, 1896.

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UNITED STATES y PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. HAMILTON, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

GAM E-l-TABLVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,972, dated December 29, 1896.

I Application filed January 16, 1896. Serial No. 575,778. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern,-

Be it known that I, J AMES A. HAMILTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new `and useful Improvements in Game-Tables; and I do declare the following t0 be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specication.

My invention relates to a gaine-table of the class adapted to be used in playing such gaines as checkers, backgammon, pachisi, and the like.

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide a table of that class that will contain within itself all the necessary appurtenances for playing such games; second, that can be easily and quickly changed from one gaine to another 5 third, that can be changed when not in use as a game-table so as to appear like an ordinary plain top table, and, fourth, to

provide a table having an opening in the center of the top, and interchangeable centers for the top thereof, and a means for raising said centers above the surface of the surronnding top for the purpose of readily changing said centers.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts described in the following specification, and more particularly set forth in the claims.

In thedrawings, Figure l is a top plan view, a part of the table-top being broken away, two of the drawers beingslightly open and an additional center piece being partially In this View the parts beneath the remaining portion of the top are indicated by the dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l, the dotted lines showing the center piece raised and drawers partly open. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

A is the table-top, having an opening in its center. B is a center piece in place' within said opening.

-bar is moved backward and forward.

B is an additional center piece as it is placed when not in use.

C, O, O", and 0 are the drawers.

D is an oblong block which acts as a support for the disks E, and is provided with openings o, through which the pins s, depending from the disks E, are passed. The slidebar F has two notches G cut into its upper face, one of the edges of said notches being perpendicular and the others inclined. An arm H, having a knob t, is attached to one end of the slide-bar adjacent to the edge of the table and is the means whereby the slide- 'Iwo strips I, on either side of the slide-bar, hold it in place and support the block D. A cleat J, attached beneath the strips I, closes the bottom opening between said strips and supports the slide-bar F. The drawer-runs la are attached to the under side of the top A, and the inner ends n thereof project past the corners of the openingin the table-top, therebyforrning supports upon which the centerpiece rests when in position in said opening in the table-top.

` The table-frame is of any desired construction and is provided with legs L. One side of the frame is grooved and provided with runs, as at m, to receive the additional center piece B'. The tops of the disks E are cushioned with felt or other like yielding material l to prevent scratching or marring the center pieces when they are being lifted out of the opening in the table-top. The interchangeable center pieces are finished on both sides, one side of one of the pieces being finished to correspond with the top of the table, while the other side and both sides of one or more additional pieces have the figures or characters necessary to the desired games, which may be either painted on the board or inlaid in'various colors. When the slide-bar F is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the center piece B will rest upon the inner ends n of the drawer-runs 7c, and the top thereof will be flush with the top of the table. When it is desired t\remove the center piece, the slidebar F is drawn out, as indicated by the dotted lines in 2, which will raise the pins s as the inclined face of the notch comes in con tact with the rounded lower ends thereof.-

IOO

This in turn lifts the disks E, and the cushioned tops thereof come in contact with and raise the center piece slightly above the level of the table-top, when it can readily be removed. To replace it, the center piece is again laid on the disks E and the slide-bar F pushed back, when the center piece Will drop back Within the opening and again rest upon the inner ends n of the drawer-runs 7e. It is thus apparent that the change from a plain to a game-table or a change of gaines can be effected quickly and with the greatest ease.

The drawers C, C, C, and 0 are provided to hold the checkers, dominoes, chessmen, or other appurtenances to the various games represented on the table, thereby keeping all the paraphernalia required together and at all times accessible. The center pieces are made to fit snugly Within the opening in the table-top, so that the opening will be entirely filled when one of them is in position. The disks E are preferably several inches in diameter, so as to afford a suiiicient support for the center piece that it may be lifted squarely Without tilting to one side. The openings 0 in the block D are of a size to permit the pins s to move Without binding, but not so loose as to allow side movement.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. A gaine-table of the class described, pro vided With two or more interchangeable detached center pieces and apartments for containing` the additional center pieces, said center pieces bein g adapt-ed to be alternately fitted into and close an opening in the center of the table-top, and a means consisting of cushioned disks operated by a notched slide-bar, for instantly throwing said center pieces out of the opening in the table-top, 4for the purpose of in terchanging them, as set forth.

2. The combination of a gaine-table of the class described, having a central opening in the top thereof, with a series of interchangeable center pieces adapted to lie Within said opening, and an independent means for instantly lifting said center pieces out of said opening, consisting of a notched slide-bar, and the pins s, provided with flat cushioned disks, substantially as described.

3. In a game-table of the class described, having a frame and a top with a central opening therein, the combination of the interchangeable center pieces B, and B', with the slide-bar F, having notches G, one side of which is inclined for the purpose of raising and lowering` the pins s, thereby causing the cushioned disks E, to lift said center pieces out of the opening in the table-top, substantially as shown and described.

4. In combination in a game-table of the class described, the top A, having the central openin g, the interchangeable center pieces B, and B', the cushioned disks E, attached to the pins s, the block D, having the openings o, the slide-bar F, having the notches G, and the arm Il, and knob t, supported by the vstrips l, and the cleat J, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a game-table provided With drawers C, C, C, and 0', the combination of a top having a central opening anddraWer-runs 7c, secured to the lower side of said top, the inner ends n, of said drauf'er-runs projecting past the corners of said opening to form supports for interchangeable center pieces with interchangeable center pieces adapted to fit into and close said opening, and the means for lifting said center pieces, substantially as shown and described.

C. The combination in a game-table of the class described, having a top with a central opening therein, of interchangeable center pieces Band B', cushioned disks E, attached to pins s, the slide-bar F, having notches G, with the table-frame having one side `grooved and provided with runsm, to receive an additional center piece, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES A. HAMILTON. lVitnesses:

IV. M. DUNLAP, II. C. BAUER. 

